This week's selectboard meeting was short, adjourning in just under half an hour. A new Emergency Management Director was appointed, the traffic enforcement contract was renewed, and another parcel of land was acquired by Vermont Fish & Wildlife.
After the call to order and brief customary remarks, payment was approved for $15,000 to McCullough Brothers for trees taken down that were identified by the town's tree warden. Also approved were several liquor licenses for local businesses such as Twenty Park Hospitality LLC, Common Ground Restaurant & Pub LLC, and Red Clover Ale Company, as well as outside consumption permits.
Seth Hopkins was absent from the meeting, so Bill Moore delivered the town manager’s report.
Moore reminded us of the upcoming "Green Up Day" on May 2, which he said is a great way to get involved and help clean up the town. He thanked Wendy Fjeld for her work on the bioswales, along with assistance from the town crew.
Moore reported that an engineer was contacted regarding the suitability of the police station roof structure for installation of the donated solar panels, as brought up at the last selectboard meeting. Instead of spending $4,500 on a complete site visit and report, the town concluded that the engineer’s offer of a “courtesy analysis” based on photographs and measurements provided by the town will suffice in determining the adequacy of the structure, and they will proceed in that direction.
Both Moore and Cecil Reniche-Smith mentioned the Vermont Council on Rural Development meeting on April 30, with Moore saying it was a once-in-a-generation opportunity and Reniche-Smith urging residents to take advantage of the expertise that would be present.
Moore's community development report included plans for reopening parks and noted damage by winter weather to a hydrant in Estabrook Park that would be fixed. He said that the baseball and softball programs were more popular than ever and thanked the various sponsors such as Mae’s Place, 22 Park Eatery, Black Diamond Builders, and many others. The first of the silent movie series at the Brandon Town Hall will be May 2.
The request to close Park Street from 10 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 25, was approved. This is an annual event, Reniche-Smith said, where a parade of first graders places flowers at the statue. Moore said the closure wouldn't be long and that this was a 124-year tradition.
Reniche-Smith said that Hopkins had resigned as Emergency Management Director and that their recommendation was for Bob Kilpeck to be appointed. Given his previous experience as Brandon’s fire chief, state emergency management supports the selection. The appointment was approved and is effective immediately.
The contract with the Rutland County Sheriff was renewed from May 16, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Doug Bailey noted that the service had been useful in allowing the Brandon Police Department to focus on community policing and investigative work rather than spending time issuing traffic tickets or attending the resulting court appearances. Bailey said that he noted a decrease in complaints about speeding since the sheriff's contract began. Reniche-Smith pointed out that the town would again reexamine the contract, but that it appeared to be currently worthwhile.
A purchase of Root-X, an aquatic herbicide used to kill roots in sewer lines, was approved for $13,000.
There was unanimous support for the acquisition of another parcel of swampland owned by Graybill Farms, a total of 144 acres, by Vermont Fish & Wildlife. The land is along Otter Creek, on both sides of the Sanderson Covered Bridge. Reniche-Smith said that VF&W preserves land in perpetuity for activities like hunting, fishing, and hiking.
The only two public comments of the meeting were regarding this land. The first person asked for clarification on property taxes for the parcel. Reniche-Smith reminded us that a payment in lieu of taxes in the amount of the municipal portion of the parcel’s property taxes will be made by the state. The second person inquired if the town maintains the right-of-way of the roadway through the land, and Reniche-Smith confirmed that the land is subject to all easements and encumbrances.
